Our Team

Wouter has been engaged with Ukraine since 2022. After a career in management consulting, he relocated to Kyiv in 2024 to focus on humanitarian initiatives. In early 2025, he joined Tulip Tech as Director, while also running a Ukrainian NGO (Obris), and later that year he founded the Dutch Defence Cluster. These experiences have given him extensive expertise in defence technology and building international partnerships. With a strong background in connecting Dutch innovation to global markets, Wouter brings the knowledge, network, and experience needed to navigate complex defence ecosystems and foster sustainable business relationships between the Netherlands and Ukraine.

Emiel has a background as an entrepreneur and has founded and scaled companies across various sectors. He currently serves as the Honorary Consul of Ukraine to the Netherlands and is Chairman of the Netherlands–Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce. He is also an international advisor at the EBRD. Emiel maintains an extensive network across the public, corporate, and diplomatic sectors in both the Netherlands and Ukraine.

Ryan is a former U.S. Army Infantryman with combat experience in Afghanistan and a background in enterprise software strategy. He advises the Dutch Defence Cluster on platform development, technical infrastructure, and operational enablement—ensuring digital tools meet the real-world needs of defence stakeholders. His experience driving transformation across large, complex organizations brings a critical blend of field awareness and system-level thinking to the initiative.

Oleh is a seasoned legal professional with extensive expertise in Ukrainian law and international business regulations. His deep understanding of the Ukrainian legal landscape and cross-border compliance requirements makes him essential for navigating the complex regulatory environment that Dutch companies face when operating in Ukraine's defence sector. He has extensive experience in working with foreign, including Dutch, companies in Ukraine and in international law.